Editor’s Note: This is the first part of education freelancer Mary Phillip’s report on under performing schools in Lake County. Part two will be published in Wednesday’s edition of the Record Bee.
LAKE COUNTY— Six of our Lake County schools were identified as low performing schools, according to the State of California’s newly released Dashboard data.
These schools include Lakeport Elementary (K-3), Mountain Vista Middle (6-8), Upper Lake Middle (6-8), Carle High Continuation (10-12), Blue Heron Opportunity Program (9-11) and Highlands Academy Community Day School (3-8). The State, under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), identifies schools as low performing if they fall into the bottom five percent by measuring the following six performance indicators: suspension rates, graduation rates (high school only), college/career readiness (high school only), English language arts, mathematics and chronic absenteeism. A student is chronically absent if they miss 18 days out of the entire school year, according to Cynthia Lenners, Lake County Office of Education Deputy Superintendent.
Lakeport Elementary School
Lakeport Unified School District (LUSD) superintendent, Pat Iaccino explains that Lakeport Elementary School made it onto the low performing schools list “because of the increase in chronic absenteeism and suspensions as well as a slight decline in both English language arts and mathematics scores”.
Iaccino stated the increase in chronic absenteeism is not accurate due to bad data which happened as a result of changing student information management systems in the 2016-2017 school year. Chronic absenteeism was reported at zero percent in that year. When accurate data was sent to the state the following year, it appeared as if there was a significant increase.
Iaccino said that because the district is small, an increase in even one student being chronically absent or suspended can affect the statistics dramatically. In addition, Iaccino points out that it is only third grade students being tested in English language arts and mathematics, so it is important to note that it is not the entire school that has declined in these subject areas. Lenners adds that it is impossible to compare the data from year to year as it is a different population being tested and therefore there is no real baseline data.
As a result of its status as a low performing school, Lakeport Elementary School will be receiving $160,000 through a Federal Comprehensive Support and Improvement Grant (CSI) which will be used to implement targeted programs and training at the elementary school. The district will also receive $126,000 from a Low Performing Students Block Grant (LPSBG) through the state of California. This grant will be used to impact grades 4 to 8. Lenners states that the county will assist and support the district to help navigate these grants. Iaccino will be meeting with county office staff, teachers, administrators, students and parents of Lakeport Elementary School to put together a plan for how to best spend these funds to gain maximum impact for students.
Mountain Vista Middle School
Kelseyville Unified School District (KVUSD) superintendent, Dave McQueen states that “though MVMS has been designated as a low performing school in the new state Dashboard, it is not the whole picture of what is happening at MVMS”.
According to McQueen, one-third of the students at Mountain Vista Middle School (MVMS) are new each year due to new sixth graders matriculating in and eighth graders leaving to attend high school. Therefore, it is difficult to use a one-year comparison to measure growth in mathematics and English language arts. McQueen said the school has a strong robotics, music and sports program as well as the school’s Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program, which prepares students for college. McQueen added that MVMS test scores were actually higher than some California schools that did not qualify as low performing, but that designation is based solely on whether or not growth occurred within a 1-year time span. Tim Gill, director of student support services, adds that more longitudinal data is needed to determine true program effectiveness.
Both Gill and McQueen state that the real challenge facing the school is chronic absenteeism. Almost 80 percent of students at MVMS are socioeconomically disadvantaged which sometimes make it difficult for students to get to class. McQueen recognizes that MVMS chronic absenteeism rate is double the state average. Gill said that there are structures in place to mitigate the issue. For instance, after three unexcused absences, a letter is sent home. A meeting with the parents is required if the student is absent again. If the absences persist, the student is referred to the School Attendance Review Board (SARB). SARB works closely with the family and district to find solutions. This approach has proven successful in many cases according to the administrators. If conditions are still not met, the case is forwarded to the District Attorney. Gill states there is currently one referral and maybe 10 more pending. He said the district tries hard to work with families regarding this issue. Home visits are made, if necessary, and support systems are put into place to assist families.
McQueen is adamant about school and student safety coming first when speaking about suspensions. He states that “The district’s main goal is to keep kids in school and safe”. He elaborates further by stating that “the district participates in the Alcohol and Other Drug Services (AODS) program where students are given counseling at the district office twice a week”. The district has also implemented the County sanctioned Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support (PBIS), a positive behavior model which has helped decrease suspensions by 35 percent this year. A vice principal has also been hired. In addition to this, Gill states that an alternative to out of school suspension is being considered for next year. For non-safety threats, students may be placed in an in-campus alternative setting and presented with a rigorous, engaging curriculum for the given time period.
KVUSD will be awarded a CSI grant worth $166,000 per year. There are hopes that this grant will be awarded for four years. Planning has begun and will continue with stakeholders and the money will be spent according to the goals already outlined in the district’s Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP). It is anticipated that a large sum of this money will go towards professional learning for teachers. The district is hampered by the shortage of teachers and substitutes, not unlike most California schools. The district will also be awarded $88,000 through LPSBG. This money will be used to expand summer school for under performing students who do not meet the criteria of being homeless, foster, socioeconomically disadvantaged or English Language Learners.
